Ventilator



L. 5. WILSON Jime 20, 1939.

YVENTILATOR Fil ed Jan. 31; 1958 Patented June 20, 1939 UNI TEE STATE E T O F F ICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a type of ventilator known in the trade as a syphon type, these being quite commonly used for removing heated or foul air from buildings, the draft being principally created by wind blowing over the top of the ventilator.

With many of the types of ventilators of this nature now in use and patented, they only clevelop their efliciency' when the wind is blowing from one direction or require a considerable wind to develop the upflow even if they operate properly with wind from different directions.

An object and feature of my invention is the construction of a ventilator which will function properly when there is no wind and will also create or increase an updraft no matter from what direction the wind is blowing and also in my construction the draft may be more or less automatically controlled independent of the velocity'of the wind. Anotherfeature of my invention is a construction so arranged to reduce dead air spaces or pockets in the air exhaust fines or pipes and present an arrangement whereby an updraft may be created both by the positive pressure of an air flow due to wind action and suction or partial vacuum developed by the wind blowing over the ventilator. My construction also has provision to prevent rain, snow or sleet from. blowing into the ventilator and thus being carried downwardly in the ventilator pipe.

A characteristic of my invention resides in the provision of preferably a cylindrical pipe which may be attached to the top of a vent pipe. Spaced above the upper edge of the attachment pipe I provide a closed top construction with an inverted air deflecting cone to reduce the dead air pocket at the top. My construction provides large openings for the exhaust of air between the top of the attachment pipe and the closed top construction. Surrounding the attachment pipe and extending upwardlyabove thelower edge of a sloping top I provide a concentric shell and between the shell and the attachment pipe I have a series of vertical vanes which extend outwardly radially from the attachment pipe and thereby provide a plurality of vertical passages for the upflow of air. Such air is positively directed up wardly by wind action by an air deflector made after the form of the frustum of a cone with the small end upwardly and secured to the attachment pipe. This also engages the lower ends of the vanes. Another characteristic of my invention is .in having the top or roof structure abovethe attachment pipe extend outwardly a considerable distance into the annular space being an inturned sloping rim'deflecting the horizontal wind flow upwardly. This also operates to deflect the upflow of air vented through the Vent pipeand the attachment pipe and the, outlets towards the cone shaped roof. Hence presuming the wind is blowing horizontally a positiveforced updraft is created on one sideby theair-deflector at the bottom, the air flowing upwardly between the vanes and in the space between the attachment pipe and the shell. On' the opposite or rearward side the upward deflection of the wind develops a partial vacuum, thus causing an upfiow of air. This upflow creates a suction onthe air in the vent pipe and the attachment pipe, thus exhausting air from the building. Various other features of my invention relate to annular rain diverters located at the upper portion of the-openair outlets and also an annular air deflector secured to the attachment plate, this also functioning as a trough to catchany rain, sleet or snow.-

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

.Fig. 1 is. a side-elevation partly broken away of the ventilator.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 in the direction of the arrows on a reduced scale.

Fig.- 3-is a vertical diametrical section on a larger scale.

.Fig. 4,.is a. plan taken in the direction of the arrow. then a reduced scale.

In my invention I employ a cylindrical vent pipe which is designed to be attached on a vent pipe of a building by fitting thereover. The lower end of the pipe I I is provided with a bead l2 to'provide for the attachment to the building vent pipe. This ventpipe terminates in an upper transverse end l3., Extending above this. end therearea series of posts it made in the form of metal strips. These strips form a' central support for a roof 15. This roof is conical having the apex i6 forming the uppermost part and is provided with an extension ll beyond the posts. An'inverted cone I8 with the apex I9 extending downwardly well below the top of the posts forms a closed chamber l9. and thus. reduces the dead air space to the flow of the air from the building which might otherwise collect adjacent the apex N5 of the roof.

A shell assembly 20 includes; a sheet metal cylinder 2| secured to the roof extension and to the posts H by an angle brace 22, such brace having straps 23 extending from and in alignment with the roof and vertical sections 24 riveted or otherwise secured to the cylindrical portion of the shell. The upper part of the shell has an inwardly coned air deflector 25, there being an annular stiffening bead 26 between this deflector and the shell proper. At the lower part of the shell there is an outwardly flared rain deflector 21.

A vane assembly 30 includes a plurality of thick flat vanes 3| of which four are shown and thin vanes 32. These extend radially from the vent pipe II and engage the lower portion of the shell 2|. The upper edge 33 of the vanes is positioned below the top |3 of the vent pipe and above the rain deflector 21, the vanes being secured in any suitable manner both to the vent pipe and to the shell. These vanes all have a vertical edge 34 in alignment with the shell. A convex edge 35 joins a straight upwardly inclined edge 36. The edge 36 engages and is attached to a cone shaped air deflector 40. This has its upper circular inner edge 4| secured to the vent pipe II and its outer edge 42 positioned beyond the inclined lower edges 36 of the vanes. It will therefore be seen that the vanes are securely attached to the vent pipe and to the air deflector 40 and. form a series of vertical spaces 43 for the upflow of atmos- Dheric air.

A rain deflector 45 has a downwardly extending frustum of a cone 46, this having a cylindrical neck 41 attached or otherwise secured to the posts M. This leaves an annular space 48 between the upper edge of the neck and the lower edge of the extension I! of the roof allowing for substantially free flowof air outwardly below the welds leaving leakage slits.

inverted cone l8. A combined air deflector and rain trap 50 includes an upwardly extending frustum of a cone secured to the vent pipe II by resting on a bead 52 and attached by a few The flow of air from the building is controlled by a damper 55 which employs a damper plate 56, a shaft 51, journalled in any suitable manner as indicated at 58 on diametrically opposite points of the vent pipe I and this damper may be controlled in any suitable manner. In the illustration a pair of cords or chains 59 are secured to the damper plate adja-- cent the edges on opposite sides of the shaft and lead downwardly through the vent pipe and the vent of the building.

The manner of operation and functioningof my invention is substantially as follows: Due to the difference of density the warm air of the building naturally rises in an upward flow indi-' cated by the arrow 10. Should there be no exflange or rim 25 of the shell.

ternal wind blowing this upwardly flowing air is diverted by the inverted cone |8 following somewhat in the direction of the arrows H and I2 outwardly between the posts l4 and through the space 48 and thence upwardly in the directionof the arrows 13 between the outer edge of the ex tension 11 of the roof and the upper portion of the shell 2|. This air flow is to a certain extent directed inwardly by the underside of the coned This action of up ward flow of the air from the building develops an upward flow of air in the space. 43 between the vanes as indicated by the arrows 14, I5 and 16.

When there is a wind blowing from any direction on the windward side, a certain proportion of the air is deflected upwardly in the direction of the arrows H by the air deflector 40. This develops a positive pressure on the air column between the vanes 43, the vent pipe I and the shell 2|. The air flow is also directed upwardly as indicated by the arrows 18 at the top by the cone flange 25. This produces a partial vacuum on one side of the assembly above the extension ll of the roof. The air is also diverted upwardly in the direction of the arrow I9 by blowing over the coned roof and the apex l5. Such action also increases the air flow upwardly in the spaces 43 on the windward side and develops a positive partial vacuum and hence upward suction on the leeward side of the apex of the roof. Therefore both by positive pressure and by partial vacuum or suction at the top, a flow of atmospheric air is produced upwardly in the spaces 43 no matter from what direction the wind blows. Hence, depending on the velocity of the wind, a mild or a strong suction is produced on the column of air in the vent pipe leading to the building. If the exhaust from the building is too strong the damper may be partially closed. It will thus be seen that my invention does not rely entirely on the difference of density of the heated air in the building and in the vent pipe as being the sole means for producing the exhaust action.

It will-be noted that in my construction quite satisfactory protection is provided against snow, sleet or rain blowing through the vent pipe I the rim 25 deflects some of the rain outwardly and this flowing downwardly on the shell is further diverted by the rain deflector 21 to drop clear of the vanes. The sloping roof and the extension will carry any rainthat runs down the roof well beyond the vent pipe dropping this into the spaces 43 and any rain which should blow inwardly is caught by the rain deflector. The cone structure 5| defined as a combined air deflector and rain trap functions mainly as an air deflector for the upward flow of the atmospheric air between the vanes, however, any rain which catches on the upper surface is drained through small openings 52. The small amount of water either from rain, sleet or snow is however quite inconsequential. Therefore the upward flow of air will for most purposes carry snow, sleet or rain quite clear of the air flow openings above the top of the vent pipe even if the damper is closed.

While it is more or less immaterial as to the manner in which the vanes 3| and 32 are secured respectively to the vent pipe II and to the sheet metal cylinder 2| forming this shell, however, I find it' satisfactory to have the outer vertical edge 34 of the vanes with a flanged tab 34 secured to the shell by riveting or the like. The lower edge 35 likewise has a vent flange-like tab 36 secured by riveting to the conical air deflector 40. The inner vertical edges contact and with the vent pipe have a flange 36", note particularly Fig. 3. It is also advisable to have strengthening beads 2| on the outside of the shell, this being additional to the strengthening bead 26 adjacent the top.

Various changes may be made in the details of theconstruction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: i

1. A ventilator including in combination a vertical vent pipe, posts extending above the pipe supporting aroof with .air outletopenings be- Qil tween the posts, a shell concentric with the vent pipe, vertical radial vanes between the vent pipe and the shell, a cone shaped air deflector with the apex upwardly attached to the vent pipe at the lower end of the vanes and adapted to direct air upwardly in spaces defined by the vent pipe, the shell and the vanes, there being an annular upwardly directed air opening between the outside edge of the roof and the shell.

2. A ventilator as claimed in claim 1, the roof being conical with the apex upwardly, an inverted cone secured to the roof, the apices of the roof and the cone being in vertical alignment and a supporting means connecting the posts and the shell adjacent the top of the posts.

3. In a ventilator having a vent pipe, a plurality of posts extending thereabove, a sloping roof supported by the posts and extending beyond the circle of the posts combined with a plurality of vertical radial vanes secured to the vent pipe and terminating below the end of such pipe, a conical air deflector connected to the vent pipe and to the lower edge of the vanes, the apex of the deflector being upwardly, a shell concentric with the vent pipe, the lower portion of the shell being connected to the upper outside edges of the vanes thereby providing a plurality of vertical spaces for upward circulation of air defined by the vanes, the vent pipe and the shell, the shell extending upwardly concentric with the circle of posts and above the extension of the roof and thereby providing an annular air space between the extension of the roof and the upper extension of the shell.

LAVETT S. WILSON. 

